Information processing device and information processing method

ABSTRACT

An electronic money server groups a parent who owns a parent mobile phone and children who own child mobile phones to be registered as a family, and credit information of the parent is also registered. When the child accesses the electronic money server by using the child mobile phone and specifies a money amount to request family charge, the electronic money server requests the parent mobile phone for permission of the family charge. When the parent grants the family charge, the electronic money server allows the parent mobile phone to decrease a value by the money amount specified by the child and to make the family settlement, and allows the child mobile phone to increase the value by this money amount and to effect the family charge. Further, the child mobile phone can accept issue of credit from a credit server on credit of the parent, thereby effecting the family charge.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/596,234, filed on Oct. 16, 2009, which is a National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2008/057346, filed on Apr. 15, 2008,and which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2007-108238, filed on Apr. 17, 2007, the entire contents of each ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device andan information processing method, and it relates to, e.g., those thatput a monetary value stored in a portable terminal into circulation.

With recent spread of electronic money, business transactions using theelectronic money have been actively carried out.

The business transactions using the electronic money are carried outbased on shift of a value by operating electronic data having anexchange value called “value” equivalent to money.

The value is electronic data representing a money amount, and it iswritten in an IC chip as money amount information.

This IC chip is included in, e.g., a resin card or a mobile phone, andit is carried by a user as an electronic purse.

A store accesses the IC chip from an electronic money terminal installedtherein and reduces a money amount of the value stored in the IC chip tomake settlement.

Further, the IC chip can be accessed from the electronic money terminalto increase a money amount of the value stored in the IC chip.Processing of increasing the value is called “charge”.

In case of the charge, the value is associated with a currency bycollecting money corresponding to a charge from a user of the IC chip.

As a technology that uses the value stored in the IC chip to makesettlement in this manner, there is, e.g., the following serviceproviding method. This technology uses the value previously stored inthe IC card to make payment in compensation for a service.

-   Patent Citation 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.    2000-250994

Furthermore, as another operation, credit information is registered inan electronic money server in association with the IC chip, and the ICchip is charged with the value based on the credit.

Moreover, the IC chip is generally included in a mobile phone that canbe connected to a network and, in this case, a user can access theelectronic money server from the mobile phone to immediately charge theIC chip.

For example, a user who cannot own a credit card, e.g., a childsupported by parents cannot immediately perform the charge online eventhough he/she owns a mobile phone that has a built-in IC chip and can beconnected to a network, and his/her mobile phone must be charged at anelectronic money terminal in, e.g., a store.

Additionally, when a user owns an IC card that has a built-in IC chipand an electronic money function, this IC card can be set in a terminaldevice at home and the like and connected with an electronic moneyserver through a network to perform the charge based on credit, but auser such as a child must pay at an electronic money terminal installedin, e.g., a store to carry out the charge.

SUMMARY

It is, therefore, an object of the to facilitate increasing a monetaryvalue stored in, e.g., a portable terminal.

To achieve this object, according to an embodiment an informationprocessing device is provided that executes information processing withrespect to a portable terminal that includes a function ofincreasing/decreasing a stored monetary value based on increaseinformation or decrease information, comprising: correspondence storingmeans for storing intrinsic information that is used to allow arepresentative to make settlement and the portable terminal owned by aregular person in association with each other in regard to a groupincluding the representative and the regular person; increase requestaccepting means for accepting an increase request for the monetary valueof a predetermined money amount from the portable terminal; settlementmeans for making settlement of the predetermined money amount requestedto increase on defrayment of the representative by using the associatedintrinsic information; and increase information transmitting means fortransmitting the increase information that is used to increase themonetary value of the predetermined money amount requested to increaseto the portable terminal.

In an embodiment, the information processing device comprisesrestrictive condition storing means for storing restrictive conditionswhen transmitting the increase information to the portable terminal,wherein the increase information transmitting means transmits theincrease information in accordance with the stored restrictiveconditions.

In an embodiment, the intrinsic information is transmission destinationinformation for a settlement terminal that is owned by therepresentative and decreases a stored monetary value based on thedecrease information, the information processing device comprisesconnection request transmitting means for transmitting a connectionrequest to the settlement terminal by using the transmission destinationinformation, and the settlement means makes settlement by transmittingthe decrease information that is used to decrease the monetary value ofthe predetermined money amount to the settlement terminal connected inresponse to the connection request.

In an embodiment, the increase information transmitting means transmitsthe increase information after the settlement means makes settlement inthe settlement terminal.

In an embodiment, the settlement means makes settlement in thesettlement terminal after the increase information transmitting meanstransmits the increase information to the portable terminal.

In an embodiment, settlement permission request transmitting means areprovided for transmitting a settlement permission request to thesettlement terminal by using the transmission destination information,wherein the settlement means makes settlement when it receives apermission notification with respect to the transmitted settlementpermission request from the settlement terminal.

In an embodiment, when no response is returned from the settlementterminal within a predetermined time after the settlement permissionrequest is transmitted, the increase information transmitting meanstransmits the increase information that is used to increase the monetaryvalue of the predetermined money amount requested to increase to theportable terminal.

In an embodiment, the information processing device includestransmission date and hour accepting means for accepting a setting of adate and hour that the increase information is transmitted from theportable terminal, wherein the settlement means transmits the decreaseinformation to the settlement terminal until the accepted transmissiondate and hour, and the increase information transmitting means transmitsthe increase information to the portable terminal after the transmissiondate and hour.

In an embodiment, the correspondence storing means stores creditinformation of the representative as second intrinsic information, theinformation processing device comprises credit acquiring means foracquiring credit of the representative from a credit server by using thestored credit information, and the settlement means makes settlementbased on the acquired credit when a predetermined condition is met.

In an embodiment, the information processing device comprises balanceconfirming means for confirming a balance of the monetary value in thesettlement terminal, wherein the predetermined condition is that theconfirmed balance is equal to or below a predetermined money amount.

In an embodiment, wherein the intrinsic information is creditinformation of the representative, the information processing devicecomprises credit acquiring means for acquiring credit of therepresentative from a credit server by using the stored creditinformation, and the settlement means makes settlement by using theacquired credit.

In an embodiment, the information processing device comprises monetaryvalue storing means for storing a monetary value generated by using thecredit in advance, wherein the settlement means makes settlement bydecreasing the predetermined amount from the stored monetary value.

In an embodiment, the monetary value storing means is capable of storinga monetary value in accordance with each portable terminal, theinformation processing device comprises distributing means fordistributing the generated monetary value in accordance with eachportable terminal based on a preset distribution amount and storing thesame in the monetary value storing means, and the increase informationtransmitting means transmits the increase information that is used toincrease a money amount of the monetary value distributed to theportable terminal when the portable terminal issues an increase request.

In an embodiment, an information processing method is provided for usinga computer to execute information processing with respect to a portableterminal that includes a function of increasing/decreasing a storedmonetary value based on increase information or decrease information,the computer comprising: correspondence storing means for storingintrinsic information that is used to allow a representative to makesettlement and the portable terminal owned by a regular person inassociation with each other in regard to a group including therepresentative and the regular person; increase request accepting means;settlement means; and increase information transmitting means, themethod comprising: an increase request accepting step of accepting anincrease request for the monetary value of a predetermined money amountfrom the portable terminal by the increase request accepting means; asettlement step of making settlement of the predetermined amountrequested to increase on defrayment of the representative by using theassociated intrinsic information by the settlement means; and anincrease information transmitting step of transmitting the increaseinformation that is used to increase the monetary value of thepredetermined amount requested to increase to the portable terminal bythe increase information transmitting means.

In an embodiment, an information processing device is provided thatexecutes information processing through a communication terminal withrespect to a monetary terminal including a function ofincreasing/decreasing a stored monetary value based on increaseinformation or decrease information, comprising: correspondence storingmeans for storing intrinsic information that is used to allow arepresentative to make settlement and the monetary terminal owned by aregular person in association with each other in regard to a groupincluding the representative and the regular person; increase requestaccepting means for accepting an increase request for the monetary valueof the predetermined money amount for the monetary terminal from thecommunication terminal; settlement means for making settlement of thepredetermined money amount requested to increase on defrayment of therepresentative by using the associated intrinsic information; connectingmeans for achieving connection with the monetary terminal through thecommunication terminal; and increase information transmitting means fortransmitting the increase information that is used to increase themonetary value of the predetermined money amount requested to increaseto the connected monetary terminal.

According to the embodiment, increasing a monetary value based ondefrayment of a representative enables readily increasing the monetaryvalue stored in, e.g., a mobile phone.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an outline of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a network configuration of an electronic moneysystem;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view for explaining a configuration of a mobilephone;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof an IC chip;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a hardware configuration of anelectronic money server;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a logical configuration of afamily database;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a family registration procedure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of performing familycharge by transferring a value from a parent mobile phone to a childmobile phone;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of performing thefamily charge by transferring the value from the parent mobile phone tothe child mobile phone;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of family chargeaccording to another embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of performing thefamily charge on credit;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another procedure of performingthe family charge on credit;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of the family chargewhen there is no response from the parent mobile phone;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of distributing avalue on credit;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of making areservation for the family charge;

FIG. 16 shows an example of screens displayed in a display of the parentmobile phone;

FIG. 17 shows an example of a screen displayed in the display of theparent mobile phone;

FIG. 18 shows an example of screens displayed in the display of theparent mobile phone;

FIG. 19 shows an example of screens displayed in the display of theparent mobile phone;

FIG. 20 shows an example of screens displayed in a display of the childmobile phone;

FIG. 21 shows an example of screens displayed in the display of thechild mobile phone; and

FIG. 22 shows an example of screens displayed in the display of thechild mobile phone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION (1) Outline of Embodiment

In this embodiment, mobile phones (each of which has a built-in IC chipfor electronic money and can be connected to a network) owned by familymembers are grouped and registered as a family to enable transferring avalue from a parent's mobile phone to a child's mobile phone. Further,credit information of the parent can be registered in an electronicmoney server 2 in advance to enable charging the child's mobile phone onthe parent's credit.

An outline of this embodiment will now be described hereinafter withreference to FIG. 1.

The electronic money server 2 groups a parent who owns a parent mobilephone 31 and children A and B who own child mobile phones 32 and 33 tobe registered as a family, and credit information of the parent is alsoregistered.

When the child accesses the electronic money server 2 through the childmobile phone 32 and specifies a money amount to request family charge,the electronic money server 2 requests the parent mobile phone 31 topermit the charge.

When the parent permits, the electronic money server 2 reduces a valuecorresponding to the money amount specified by the child to performfamily settlement with respect to the parent mobile phone 31, and thechild mobile phone 32 increases the value corresponding to this moneyamount to carry out the family charge. As a result, the value istransferred to the child mobile phone 32 from the parent mobile phone31.

Furthermore, the child mobile phone 32 may accept the issue of creditfrom a credit server 61 on credit of the parent to thereby perform thefamily charge.

As explained above, in the electronic money system 1, using the value inthe parent mobile phone 31 or the credit of the parent enables effectingthe family charge in the child mobile phone 32 online based ondefrayment of the parent, but various modifications can be carried outas will be explained in “Detail of Embodiment”.

(2) Details of Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a view showing a network configuration of the electronic moneysystem 1.

The electronic money system 1 is constituted of a mobile phone 7, anelectronic money server 2, the Internet 4, a base station 5, an IC card6, a user terminal 9, electronic money terminals 8, a credit server 61,and others.

It is to be noted that the mobile phone 7 includes a parent mobile phone31 and a child mobile phone 32 that are registered as a family. That is,a parent's mobile phone 7 registered as a family is the parent mobilephone 31, and a child's mobile phone 7 is the child mobile phone 32.

The mobile phone 7 has a built-in non-contact type IC chip having anelectronic money processing function, and can be connected to theelectronic money terminal 8 and others based on near field wirelesscommunication.

That is, when making settlement by using the value in the mobile phone 7is desired, the mobile phone 7 is set to a reader/writer of theelectronic money terminal 8 like the IC card 6 (which will be describedlater), and a sales assistance in an affiliated store can reduce thevalue corresponding to a payment from the mobile phone 7 by operatingthe electronic money terminal 8.

It is to be noted that the value is a concept corresponding to money inthe electronic money system 1 and is monetary information representing amoney amount of a monetary value as electronic data, and the IC chipfunctions as a monetary terminal.

To execute such a function, the IC chip has a function of storing thevalue and a function of changing the stored value by using money amountchange information.

The money amount change information includes increase information forincreasing the value and decrease information for decreasing the value,and the IC chip increases a balance of the stored value by using theincrease information and decreases a balance of the value by using thedecrease amount.

It is to be noted that processing of increasing the value is called“charge” and processing of decreasing the value is called “settlement”.

Further, the mobile phone 7 can communicate with the electronic moneyserver 2 through the Internet 4 by performing wireless communicationwith the base station 5.

Therefore, the mobile phone 7 can receive the money amount changeinformation from the electronic money server 2 to increase/decrease thevalue.

An affiliated store keeps money corresponding to an amount to be chargedfrom a user when charging the mobile phone 7 at the electronic moneyterminal 8, and an electronic money center keeps the money in creditsettlement on credit of the user when charging from the electronic moneyserver 2.

Furthermore, the money that is kept from the user is distributed to theaffiliated store in accordance with settlement using the value, therebyassociating the value with the currency.

The parent mobile phone 31 is the parent's mobile phone 7 subjected tofamily registration in the electronic money server 2, and the childmobile phone 32 is the child's mobile phone 7 subjected to the familyregistration. A functional configuration of each of the parent mobilephone 31 and the child mobile phone 32 is the same as that of the mobilephone 7.

Since the value is transferred from the parent mobile phone 31 to thechild mobile phone 32 by later-explained family charge, the child mobilephone 32 functions as a portable terminal having a function ofincreasing/decreasing a stored monetary value (i.e., the value) based onthe increase information or the decrease information, and the parentmobile phone 31 functions as a settlement terminal that reduces thestored monetary value based on the decrease information.

It is to be noted that the users of the mobile phone 7 are grouped andregistered as a family in this embodiment, but it is just an example,and a human relationship between constituent members of the group may bearbitrary. Furthermore, the user may be a natural person or a legalperson.

That is, the electronic money server 2 takes a configuration that theusers of the mobile phone 7 are grouped under the name of the familyregistration, one or more constituent members defray a payment, andother constituent members perform the charge online.

Moreover, the electronic money server 2 gives a constituent member whodefrays a charge payment an attribute “representative” and gives aconstituent member who performs the charge an attribute “regular person”to discriminate a person who defrays the charge payment from a personwho performs the charge.

Therefore, for example, the mobile phone 7 can be given to each personresponsible for a sales team or an express package service team, acompany that is a legal person can be determined as a representative,and each person in charge can be subjected to the family registration asa regular person.

Although the parent and the child will be taken as an example in thefollowing description, the parent and the child can be regarded as arepresentative and a regular person, respectively.

Additionally, a group subjected to the family registration will bereferred to as a family group, charge based on transfer of funds in thefamily group will be referred to as family charge, and settlement (i.e.,decreasing the value from the parent mobile phone 31 when transferringthe value from the parent mobile phone 31 to the child mobile phone 32)will be referred to as family settlement.

The IC card 6 is an electronic money card having an IC chip equivalentto that included in the mobile phone 7.

The IC card 6 can communicate with electronic money terminal 8 toperform the charge or the settlement, and can be connected with theelectronic money server 2 through the user terminal 9 to communicatewith the electronic money server 2 for effecting the charge or thesettlement.

The user terminal 9 is, e.g., a personal computer including a devicethat accesses a non-contact type IC chip called a reader/writer, and itincludes a function of achieving connection with the Internet 4.

The user terminal 9 can be connected with the IC chip of the mobilephone 7 or the IC card 6 through the reader/writer to mediatecommunication between the IC chip and the electronic money server 2.

The electronic money server 2 collects information concerningcirculation of the value in the electronic money system 1 and managesthe association of the value and the currency.

For example, the electronic money server 2 requests the electronic moneyterminal 8 to transmit utilization log data through a communication lineand performs the fund settlement for each affiliated store in accordancewith the charge of the value or the settlement, thereby shifting thecurrency in association with the distribution of the value.

Further, the electronic money server 2 registers a parent and a child asa family and performs the family charge with respect to the child mobilephone 32 to the parent's cost.

The electronic money server 2 functions as an information processingdevice that carries out information processing with respect to eachportable terminal having a function of increasing/decreasing a storedmonetary value based on increase information or decrease information.

The affiliated store is a store (e.g., a convenience store, a departmentstore, a restaurant, any other retail store, a commercial vehicle, orany other mobile object) where the settlement or the charge using thevalue can be effected by utilizing the mobile phone 7 or the IC card 6,and it includes one or more electronic money terminal 8 in an accountingarea.

The electronic money terminal 8 is a terminal that accesses the IC chipof the mobile phone 7 or the IC card 6 based on near fieldcommunication, and it is solely installed or it is incorporated in anaccounting device (an electronic cash register) or the like to beinstalled.

Alternatively, as another installation conformation, the electronicmoney terminal 8 dedicated to the charge is installed in an open spaceof commercial facilities, or the electronic money terminal 8 dedicatedto the settlement is incorporated in an automatic vending machine to beused for the settlement in the automatic vending machine.

The electronic money terminal 8 can transmit money amount changeinformation to the mobile phone 7 or the IC card 6 to execute the chargeor the settlement.

The credit server 61 is a server device managed by a credit company, andit examines a user of a credit card to issue credit.

The credit server 61 can be connected to the electronic money server 2,and it issues credit upon receiving a request to examine a user of themobile phone 7 or the IC card 6 for credit from the electronic moneyserver 2.

The electronic money server 2 can generate the value based on thiscredit and charge the mobile phone 7 or the IC card 6 online (i.e.,through the Internet 4).

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing an example of a configuration of themobile phone 7. The parent mobile phone 31 or the child mobile phone 32has the same configuration.

The mobile phone 7 includes a phone function unit 10 and an IC chip 12,and they are connected with each other through an interface unit 11.

In the IC chip 12, a terminal communication unit 16, a value processingunit 17, an electronic money storage unit 18, and others are formed.

The electronic money storage unit 18 stores, an electronic moneyfunction unit ID, a value balance, log data, an others.

The electronic money function unit ID is identification information thatspecifies the IC chip 12 in the electronic money system 1.

The value balance is an amount of the currently stored value, and the ICchip 12 can perform settlement processing by reducing this value at,e.g., the electronic money terminal 8 installed in a store.

The log data is log data having value processing contents and othersrecorded therein, and it includes a date, hours, minutes, and seconds ofprocessing, a charge amount, a settlement amount, and others.

The terminal communication unit 16 mediates communication between theelectronic money terminal 8 and the value processing unit 17 by, e.g.,receiving a later-described ID reference command, money amount changeinformation, or any other commands from the reader/writer of theelectronic money terminal 8 and inputting them to the value processingunit 17.

The value processing unit 17 can communicate with the electronic moneyterminal 8 through the terminal communication unit 16 and cancommunicate with the electronic money server 2 through the phonefunction unit 10.

Furthermore, the value processing unit 17 can be connected with the userterminal 9 (FIG. 2) through the terminal communication unit 16 tocommunicate with the electronic money server 2.

Moreover, the value processing unit 17 receives various kinds ofcommands from the electronic money terminal 8 or the electronic moneyserver 2 and executes these commands.

The commands include the money amount change information, the IDreference command, a balance reference command, and others.

As the money amount change information, there are decrease informationfor decreasing the value and increase information for increasing thevalue as explained above.

Additionally, the value processing unit 17 increases the value in theelectronic money storage unit 18 by an amount specified in the increaseinformation when the increase information is input, and it decreases thevalue in the electronic money storage unit 18 by an amount specified inthe decrease information.

Therefore, the electronic money server 2 can transmit the decreaseinformation to the value processing unit 17 in the parent mobile phone31 to perform the family settlement, and can transmit the increaseinformation to the value processing unit 17 in the child mobile phone 32to effect the family charge.

The ID reference command is a command that allows the value processingunit 17 to read an electronic money function unit ID, and the valueprocessing unit 17 reads the electronic money function unit ID from theelectronic money storage unit 18 and outputs it when the ID referencecommand is input.

Therefore, the electronic money server 2 can transmit the ID referencecommand to the parent mobile phone 31 and the child mobile phone 32 toacquire their electronic money function unit IDs, thereby confirmingwhether they are the parent mobile phone 31 and the child mobile phone32 subjected to the family registration.

The balance reference command is a command that allows the valueprocessing unit 17 to read the value, and the value processing unit 17reads the value from the electronic money storage unit 18 and outputs itwhen the balance reference command is input.

Therefore, the electronic money server 2 can transmit the balancereference command to the parent mobile phone 31 to acquire the valuestored in the parent mobile phone 31, thereby selecting a conformation(e.g., whether the family settlement is performed by using the parentmobile phone 31 or credit issued from the credit server 61 is used) ofthe later-explained family charge.

The phone function unit 10 has a call mode that a telephone call is madeand an application mode, and these modes can be switched by an operationfrom a user.

The phone function unit 10 has a CPU and a storage unit storing variouskinds of application programs, and various application functions can beexercised by executing these application programs by the CPU in theapplication mode.

An electronic money application unit 15 is formed by executing anelectronic money application program by the CPU in the phone functionunit 10.

The electronic money application unit 15 can access both the electronicmoney server 2 and the IC chip 12 and mediate communication between theelectronic money server 2 and the IC chip 12.

The electronic money application unit 15 is connected with the IC chip12 through the interface unit 11, and it can access a service siteprovided by the electronic money server 2 or can mediate communicationbetween the electronic money server 2 and the IC chip 12.

Therefore, a user can use the electronic money application unit 15 toaccess the service site of the electronic money server 2 and to applyfor the family charge, and then the electronic money server 2 can accessthe IC chip 12 to carry out the family charge.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof the IC chip 12.

The IC chip 12 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a high-frequencycircuit 22, an antenna 26, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, a RAM (RandomAccess Memory) 24, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and ProgrammableROM) 25, and others.

These elements are formed on the IC chip 12 and function as a monetaryterminal storing a balance (the value) of a monetary value (the value)as explained above.

However, the antenna 26 is formed of an aerial wire stretched near anouter edge portion in the IC card 6 or on an elliptic curve having adiagonal line of the IC card 6 as an axis, and an end portion thereof isconnected with the IC chip 12.

The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that performs informationprocessing in accordance with various kinds of programs stored in theROM 23 or the EEPROM 25.

The CPU 21 can perform near field communication with the electronicmoney terminal 8 or the user terminal 9 through the antenna 26 or thehigh-frequency circuit 22.

The antenna 26 is an antenna that is used to effecttransmission/reception with respect to a built-in antenna in, e.g., thereader/writer of the electronic money terminal 8 through electronicwaves, and it transmits/receives various kinds of information andgenerates electric power that is used to drive the IC chip 12 throughelectric waves from the electronic money terminal 8.

The high-frequency circuit 22 converts a high frequency transmitted fromthe reader/writer to the antenna 26 into a digital signal to be outputto the CPU 21, or it converts a digital signal output from the CPU 21into a high frequency to be transmitted to the electronic money terminal8 or the like from the antenna 26.

The RAM 24 is a continually writable/readable memory that provides aworking memory when the CPU 21 executes information processing.

In this embodiment, when the CPU 21 communicates with the electronicmoney terminal 8 or increases/decreases the value, the RAM 24 is used asa temporary storage region.

The ROM 23 is a read-only memory storing basic programs, parameters, ordata that allow the IC card 6 to function.

The EEPROM 25 is a ROM into/from which information can bewritten/erased. Information stored in the EEPROM 25 is maintained eventhough electric power is not supplied to the IC card 6.

The EEPROM 25 stores a monetary terminal program that allows the IC chip12 to exercise its function as a monetary terminal, and it also has anelectric money storage unit 18 storing various kinds of data such as anelectric money function unit ID, a value balance, or log data formedtherein.

When the CPU 21 executes the monetary terminal program, the valueprocessing unit 17 (FIG. 3) is formed.

Although not shown, the IC card 6 has the built-in IC chip 12 therein,and the IC chip 12 has the same configuration as the IC chip 12 in themobile phone 7 except that it is not connected with the phone functionunit 10 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a hardware configuration of theelectronic money server 2.

The electronic money server 2 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 54, acommunication control unit 53, a storage unit 55, and others that areconnected through a bus line.

The CPU 51 is a central processing unit that executes various kinds ofinformation processing in accordance with a predetermined program.

In this embodiment, the CPU 51 collects utilization log data from theelectronic money terminal 8 to perform aggregate calculation, or itcarries out the family registration with respect to users of the parentmobile phone 31 or the child mobile phone 32 to provide a family chargeservice.

Furthermore, the CPU 51 manages a service site that provides the familycharge service or other services, or it transmits electronic mails tothe parent mobile phone 31 or the child mobile phone 32.

It is to be noted that all these functions do not have be executed bythe CPU 51, and a plurality of server devices may be combined toconstitute a system having functions equivalent to those of theelectronic money server 2.

The ROM 52 is a read-only memory, and it stores basic programs orparameters that are used to operate the electronic money server 2.

The RAM 54 is a readable/writable memory, and it provides a workingmemory for the CPU 51 or loads programs or data stored in the storageunit 55 and stores them therein.

The communication control unit 53 is a control unit that communicateswith the electronic money terminal 8 or communicates with the mobilephone 7, the parent mobile phone 31, or the child mobile phone 32through the base station 5.

The storage unit 55 is constituted by using a high-capacity memorydevice such as a hard disk, and it includes a program storage unit 56storing various kinds of programs, a data storage unit 57 storing data,and others.

The program storage unit 56 stores an OS as a basic program that allowsthe electronic money server 2 to function, a program that is used by theCPU 51 to provide the family charge service, and other programs.

The data storage unit 57 stores a user database 58, a family accountdatabase 60, a non-illustrated utilization log database, and others.

The user database 58 has users of the mobile phone 7 and the IC card 6registered therein, and a family database 59 storing family informationis formed by grouping these users based on the family registration inthe user database 58.

The family database 59 includes family information having such as alogical configuration as depicted in FIG. 6.

It is to be noted that the user database 58 is formed of, e.g., aso-called relational database, and a logical configuration obtained byextracting items subjected to the family registration from the userdatabase 58 forms the family database 59.

The family database 59 is formed of a “family ID”, a “family password”,a “family account number”, an “electronic money function unit ID”, a“family relationship”, an “electronic mail address”, “creditinformation”, “family charge restriction information”, and other items.

The “family ID” is identification information that is used by theelectronic money server 2 to identify a family group.

The “family password” is a password common to users subjected to thefamily registration.

The electronic money server 2 can confirm that a user is a group memberbased on a family password and can specify a family ID by using a familypassword when it receives the family password from the parent mobilephone 31 or the child mobile phone 32.

The “family account number” is an account number of a family account.Although particulars will be explained later, the family account is avalue savings account opened in the electronic money server 2 inassociation with a family group, and the value generated based on, e.g.,credit of the parent is stored in this account.

The child mobile phone 32 can be subjected to the family charge bydownloading the value from the family account.

The “electronic money function unit ID” is an electronic money functionunit ID given to the IC chip 12 of the mobile phone 7 (the parent mobilephone 31, the child mobile phone 32, . . . ) owned by each constituentmember of the family group.

The electronic money server 2 acquires the electronic money functionunit ID from the parent mobile phone 31 or the child mobile phone 32when performing the family charge or the family settlement, and collatesthis ID with IDs registered in the “electronic money function unit ID”for confirmation.

The “family relationship” corresponds to discrimination of a person whodefrays a cost caused due to the family charge from a person who carriesout the family charge, i.e., discrimination of a representative from aregular person.

The “electronic mail address” is an electronic mail address that is usedby the electronic money server 2 to transmit an electronic mail to theparent mobile phone 31 or the child mobile phone 32.

The “credit information” is information that is used by the creditserver 61 to authenticate a representative when requesting the creditserver 61 to issue credit to the representative, and it includes, e.g.,a credit number, a security code, and others.

As will be explained later, the electronic money server 2 uses anelectronic mail address of the parent mobile phone 31 to make settlementof a cost for the family charge when the parent mobile phone 31 is usedto perform the family settlement and effect the family charge, and theelectronic money server 2 uses the credit information to make settlementof a cost for the family charge when the family charge is performedbased on credit, and hence both the electronic mail address of theparent mobile phone 31 an the credit information function as intrinsicinformation that is used to make settlement of the cost for the familycharge by the representative. Furthermore, the electronic mail addressalso functions as transmission destination information for a settlementterminal (the parent mobile phone 31).

The “family charge restriction information” is a restrictive conditionset by a representative in order to prevent the child mobile phone 32from unlimitedly performing the family charge from the parent mobilephone 31.

Specifically, an upper limit amount that enables performing the familycharge, i.e., “up to 3,000 yen per month” or “up to 1,000 yen each time”can be set.

It is to be noted that, besides, various kinds of information requiredto provide the family charge service such as a private password that isused to authenticate each person, e.g., the parent or the child or adistribution amount (which will be explained later) when the value isdistributed to the child mobile phone 32 are registered in the familydatabase 59.

Further, a fixed number in a family group is set by an enterprise of theelectronic money system 1 for the reason of management.

As explained above, the family database 59 functions as correspondencestoring means for storing intrinsic information (an electronic mailaddress and credit information of the parent mobile phone 31) that isused to make the settlement by a representative and a mobile terminalowned by a regular person in association with each other in regard to agroup including the representative and the regular person, and alsofunctions as restrictive condition storing means for storing restrictiveconditions (family charge restriction information) when transmittingincrease information to the mobile terminal.

Various conformations of provision of the family charge service will nowbe described with reference to a flowchart.

It is to be noted that, since various operating conformations of thefamily charge service can be utilized, major ones in these conformationswill be explained, but the enterprise that manages the electronic moneysystem 1 determines a conformation to be adopted.

A configuration that a representative (e.g., the parent) and a regularperson (e.g., the child) are grouped and the mobile phone 7 of theregular person is charged online to the representative's cost is commonto all the conformations.

A procedure of performing the family charge will be first explained withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 7.

First, the parent accesses a screen on which the family registration ata service site of the electronic money server 2 is performed from theparent mobile phone 31.

Further, the parent inputs necessary information, e.g., informationconcerning the child mobile phone 32 in this screen, and then performsan operation of transmitting the input information.

Then, the parent mobile phone 31 generates family registrationinformation including the input information and transmits the generatedinformation to the electronic money server 2 (a step 5).

The electronic money server 2 receives the family registrationinformation from the parent mobile phone 31, registers this informationin the family database 59 (a step 10), and sets a family group includingthis parent as a representative.

It is to be noted that, in the electronic money server 2, the parent hasan authority to perform the family registration so that the child cannotregister himself/herself as a family without the parent's permission orcannot change registered information.

A procedure of performing the family charge in the electronic moneysystem 1 will now be described.

Although there are various conformations of the family charge, transferof the value from the parent mobile phone 31 to the child mobile phone32 as a basic conformation will be first described with reference to aflowchart of FIG. 8.

First, the child accesses a screen on which he/she applies for thefamily charge at the service site of the electronic money server 2 fromthe child mobile phone 32, inputs necessary information from thisscreen, and clicks a transmission button.

Then, the child mobile phone 32 generates family charge requestinformation including the input information and transmits the generatedinformation to the electronic money server 2 (a step 15).

The family charge request information includes a family password, anelectronic money function unit ID of the child mobile phone 32, a chargeamount, information that specifies a representative specified by thechild when there are a plurality of representatives, and others.

The electronic money server 2 receives the family charge requestinformation from the child mobile phone 32. As explained above, theelectronic money server 2 includes increase request accepting means foraccepting a request to increase a monetary value (the value) by apredetermined money amount (a charge amount) from the mobile terminal(the child mobile phone 32).

Upon receiving the family charge request information, the electronicmoney server 2 retrieves family information to confirm the parent andthe child as targets of the family charge service (a step 20).

It is to be noted that, although not shown in FIG. 8, the electronicmoney server 2 can accept a message, e.g., “please give me the value for500 yen because I want to download a game” when receiving a chargerequest from the child mobile phone 32, and can transmit this message tothe parent mobile phone 31 simultaneously with a charge requestnotifying mail. As a result, the parent can be aware of a purpose of thevalue and determine whether he/she grants permission.

It is to be noted that a function of returning a message, e.g., “youcannot have it any further this month” or “OK, I will send you rightaway” from the parent mobile phone 31 to the child mobile phone 32 canbe implemented in the electronic money server 2. In more detail, theelectronic money server 2 specifies a family ID (i.e., a family group)from a family password, specifies the child mobile phone 32 as aexecution target of the family charge and the child who owns this mobilephone from an electronic money function unit ID, and specifies theparent mobile phone 31 as an execution target of the family settlementand the parent from information that specifies a representative.

Further, the electronic money server 2 confirms that the specified childand parent are registered as a representative and a regular person inthe specified family group, respectively.

Subsequently, the electronic money server 2 uses an electronic mailaddress of the representative to transmit a charge request notifyingmail to the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 25).

This electronic mail includes information that specifies the child and amoney amount requested for the charge, and it requests to perform thefamily settlement by connecting the parent mobile phone 31 to theelectronic money server 2.

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 includes connectionrequest transmitting means for using transmission destinationinformation (an electronic mail address of the parent mobile phone 31)to transmit a connection request to a settlement terminal (the parentmobile phone 31).

Furthermore, the charge request notifying mail also plays a role ofrequesting the child mobile phone 32 to make payment for a cost of thefamily charge by using the value in the parent mobile phone 31, andhence the electronic money server 2 includes settlement permissionrequest transmitting means for transmitting a settlement permissionrequest to the settlement terminal (the parent mobile phone 31) by usingthe transmission destination information (the electronic mail address ofthe parent mobile phone 31).

Upon receiving the charge request notifying mail, the parent mobilephone 31 urges the parent to see the mail by using, e.g., a ringing toneor vibration.

The parent mobile phone 31 displays the charge request notifying mail ina display by an operation from the parent and urges to select permissionor non-permission for the family settlement.

When the parent selects non-permission, the electronic money server 2transmits a message notifying that the family charge is impossible tothe child mobile phone 32, but it is assumed that the parent permits thefamily settlement in this example.

When the parent selects permission for the family settlement, the parentmobile phone 31 transmits a permission notification to the electronicmoney server 2 (a step 30).

When the electronic money server 2 receives the permission notificationfor the family settlement from the parent mobile phone 31, it generatesdecrease information that is used to decrease the value by a moneyamount of the family charge and transmits the generated information tothe parent mobile phone 31 (a step 35).

In this manner, the electronic money server 2 includes settlement meansfor making settlement for a predetermined money amount (a charge amount)requested to be increased based on defrayment from a representative byusing intrinsic information (an electronic mail address of the childmobile phone 32) associated in family information.

Upon receiving the decrease information from the electronic money server2, the parent mobile phone 31 uses the received information to performthe family settlement for a corresponding money amount from the value inthe parent mobile phone 31 (a step 40).

Furthermore, the parent mobile phone 31 transmits a family settlementcompletion notification to the electronic money server 2 to notify theelectronic money server 2 of completion of the family settlement.

Upon receiving the family settlement completion notification from theparent mobile phone 31, the electronic money server 2 generates increaseinformation that is used to increase the value for the money amountsubjected to the family settlement and transmits the generatedinformation to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 45).

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 includes increaseinformation transmitting means for transmitting increase informationthat is used to increase a monetary value (the value) for apredetermined money amount (a charge amount) requested to be increasedto the mobile terminal (the child mobile phone 32).

When the child mobile phone 32 receives the increase information fromthe electronic money server 2, it uses this information to increase thevalue by an amount decreased in the parent mobile phone 31 and executesthe family charge (a step 50).

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 can execute familycharge by transferring the value from the parent mobile phone 31 to thechild mobile phone 32.

Although the family settlement is made and then the family charge isperformed in the above example, these operations can be effected in thereversed order as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 9.

It is to be noted that like step numbers denote respective pieces ofprocessing equal to those in FIG. 8, thereby simplifying an explanation.

A step 15 and a step 20 are the same as those in FIG. 8.

Upon receiving a family charge request from the child mobile phone 32,the electronic money server 2 generates increase information for arequested money amount and transmits the generated information to thechild mobile phone 32 (a step 45).

The child mobile phone 32 receives this information and executes thefamily charge (a step 50). When the family charge is completed, thechild mobile phone 32 notifies the electronic money server 2 of thiscompletion.

When the child mobile phone 32 receives a notification that the familycharge is completed, the electronic money server 2 transmits a chargecompletion notifying mail to the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 27),notifies the parent that the family charge is completed in the childmobile phone 32, and asks for permission for the family settlement.

When the parent permits the family settlement, the parent mobile phone31 transmits the family settlement permission to the electronic moneyserver 2 (a step 30).

When the electronic money server 2 receives the family settlementpermission, it generates decrease information that is used to decreasethe value for a money mount subjected to the family charge in the childmobile phone 32 and transmits the generated information to the parentmobile phone 31 (a step 35).

The parent mobile phone 31 receives the decrease information from theelectronic money server 2 and carries out it to perform the familysettlement (a step 40).

In this example, the child mobile phone 32 can immediately effect thefamily charge without waiting for permission from the parent mobilephone 31.

The above has explained the procedure of making the family settlement inthe parent mobile phone 31 before subjecting the child mobile phone 32to the family charge (FIG. 8) and the procedure of making the familysettlement in the parent mobile phone 31 after subjecting the childmobile phone 32 to the family charge (FIG. 9), the followingconformation in which these procedures are combined can be used.

That is, when the child mobile phone 32 requests for the family charge,the electronic money server 2 asks the parent mobile phone 31 forpermission of the family settlement in the parent mobile phone 31 byusing, e.g., an electronic mail.

Moreover, when there is a response of permission from the parent mobilephone 31 within N minutes (within a predetermined time), the electronicmoney serer 2 makes the family settlement in the parent mobile phone 31and then performs the family charge with respect to the child mobilephone 32.

On the other hand, when there is no response from the parent mobilephone 31 within N minutes, the electronic money server 2 performs thefamily charge in the child mobile phone 32 and thereafter makes thefamily settlement in the parent mobile phone 31.

Additionally, when there is a response of non-permission from the parentmobile phone 31, the electronic money server 2 notifies the child mobilephone 32 that the family charge cannot be performed and does not effectthe family charge.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a method forselecting a procedure of the family charge based on a combination ofvarious kinds of conditions.

As will be explained later, the electronic money server 2 can beconfigured to divaricate processing based on a combination of variouskinds of conditions.

As a result, a threshold value is provided for an amount of the familycharge, and the family charge can be performed based on the schemedepicted in FIG. 9 when a money amount requested by the child mobilephone 32 is equal to or below this threshold value, whilst the familycharge can be carried out based on the scheme depicted in FIG. 8 whenthe money amount is above the threshold value.

First, when the electronic money server 2 accepts a request for thefamily charge from the child mobile phone 32, it confirms (a balance of)the value in the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 100).

As this confirmation, an electronic mail may be transmitted to theparent mobile phone 31 to notify the parent, the parent mobile phone 31may be connected to the electronic money server 2, and then a balancereference command may be transmitted to perform confirmation, or thevalue in the parent mobile phone 31 recorded in the electronic moneyserver 2 may be confirmed.

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 includes balanceconfirming means for confirming a balance of a monetary value (thevalue) in the settlement terminal (the parent mobile phone 31).

It is to be noted that the value in the parent mobile phone 31 recordedin the electronic money server 2 is calculated by tallying utilizationlog data transmitted on a regular/irregular base, and hence thecalculated value may possibly deviate from a current value of the valuestored in the parent mobile phone 31.

When the value in the parent mobile phone 31 is not a sufficient moneyamount with respect to a predetermined reference value which is set inadvance (a step 105; N), the electronic money server 2 transmits adisabled charge notifying mail to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 110)to notify that the family charge is impossible.

On the other hand, when the value in the parent mobile phone 31 issufficient (the step 105; Y), the electronic money server 2 confirmswhether a requested money amount for the family charge requested by thechild mobile phone 32 is equal to or below a preset fixed money amount(a step 115).

When the requested money amount is equal to or below the fixed moneyamount (the step 115; Y), the electronic money server 2 first performsthe family charge with respect to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 135)and then transmits a charge completion notifying mail to the parentmobile phone 31 (a step 140) to make the family settlement in the parentmobile phone 31 (a step 145).

When the requested money amount is larger than the fixed money amount(the step 115; N), the electronic money server 2 transmits a chargerequest notifying mail to the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 120), whenthe parent mobile phone 31 grants permission, the electronic moneyserver 2 makes the family settlement in the parent mobile phone 31 (astep 125), and thereafter performs the family charge in the child mobilephone 32 (a step 130).

A procedure of depositing the value in a family account and therebyperforming the family charge by the electronic money server 2 will nowbe described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 11. The familyaccount functions as monetary value storing means for storing a monetaryvalue (the value) generated by using credit of a representative inadvance.

A user can select a scheme of performing the family charge based oncredit of the representative like the following scheme in place of theabove-explained scheme of transferring the value from the parent mobilephone 31 to the child mobile phone 32. First, the parent mobile phone 31accesses the service site of the electronic money server 2 and specifiesa money amount to request the charge based on credit to the familyaccount (a step 150).

Upon accepting the request for the charge based on credit to the familyaccount from the parent mobile phone 31, the electronic money server 2uses credit information of the parent to request the credit server 61 toissue credit corresponding to a money amount of the charge (a step 155).

When the credit server 61 accepts the credit issue request from theelectronic money server 2, it examines about this request and notifiesthe electronic money server 2 of the credit issue (a step 160).

Further, the electronic money server 2 receives notification of thecredit issue from the credit server 61.

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 includes creditacquiring means for acquiring credit of a representative from the creditserver 61 by using credit information.

When the electronic money server 2 accepts the credit from the creditserver 61, it generates the value (a step 165) and transmits it to afamily account management unit (a step 165).

Here, the family account management unit is a function unit provided inthe electronic money server 2 to manage the family account.

When the electronic money server 2 generates the value, the familyaccount management unit deposits the generated value into the familyaccount (a step 170).

The value can be stored in the family account like a regular savingsaccount, and the value can be deposited or drawn by using the familyaccount management unit.

When the value is deposited in the family account in this manner and thechild mobile phone 32 requests the electronic money server 2 for thefamily charge (a step 175), the electronic money server 2 retrievesfamily information in the family database 59 to confirm the child mobilephone 32 and a family group of the child mobile phone 32 (a step 180).

Furthermore, the electronic money server 2 uses the family accountmanagement unit to decrease the value corresponding to a family chargeamount from the family account of the corresponding family group (a step185).

Then, the electronic money server 2 generates increase information andtransmits this information to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 190),and the child mobile phone 32 uses this increase information to executethe family charge (a step 200).

As explained above, since the value stored in the family account of theelectronic money server 2 is downloaded to the child mobile phone 32 inthis pattern, the family charge can be rapidly carried out withoutconfirming with the parent mobile phone 31.

It is to be noted that a configuration that the family charge isperformed with respect to the child mobile phone 32 and then the valuein the family account is reduced can be adopted. In this case, thefamily charge with respect to the child mobile phone 32 can be morerapidly carried out.

It is to be noted that, when the child mobile phone 32 asks for thecharge with respect to the family account, a charge request permissionmail may be transmitted to the parent mobile phone 31 and the familycharge may be permitted after granting permission.

An example of performing the charge on credit when the parent mobilephone 31 does not have the sufficient value will now be explained withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 12.

First, a procedure of asking the electronic money server 2 for thefamily charge by the child mobile phone 32 (a step 15) andretrieving/confirming family information by the electronic money server2 (a step 20) is the same as that in FIG. 8.

When the electronic money server 2 receives the family charge requestfrom the child mobile phone 32, it confirms a balance of the valuestored in the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 215).

As this confirmation, a confirmation mail may be transmitted to theparent mobile phone 31 to connect the parent mobile phone 31 to theelectronic money server 2 and a balance reference command may betransmitted to perform confirmation, or the balance may be calculated bytallying utilization log data stored in the electronic money server 2.

When the electronic money server 2 detects that the balance of the valueis insufficient (a step 220), it requests the credit server 61 to issuecredit corresponding to a money amount required in the family charge (astep 230).

It is to be noted that a credit permission notifying mail may betransmitted to the parent mobile phone 31 when requesting the creditissue and the credit issue request may be permitted only when there is apermission response.

When the credit server 61 receives the credit issue request from theelectronic money server 2, it examines about this request, issues thecredit (a step 235), and notifies the electronic money server 2.

When the electronic money server 2 receives the credit issuenotification from the credit server 61 (credit acquiring means), itgenerates the value based on this credit (a step 240).

Further, the electronic money server 2 generates increase informationthat is used to increase a money amount of this value and transmits thegenerated information to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 245).

The child mobile phone 32 receives this increase information and usesthis information to execute the family charge (a step 250).

As explained above, in this example, when the value in the parent mobilephone 31 is insufficient, the child mobile phone 32 can be charged oncredit of the parent.

That is, when a predetermined condition (insufficiency of the value inthe parent mobile phone 31) is met, the electronic money server 2 makessettlement of a cost for the family charge based on the credit acquiredfrom the credit server 61.

It is to be noted that transfer of the value from the parent mobilephone 31 is a presupposition and the family charge based on credit isperformed when this transfer is difficult in this example, but anoperation of a system premised on the charge on credit alone withoutmaking the family settlement in the parent mobile phone 31 is alsopossible.

A procedure of performing the family charge on credit when no responseis returned even though the parent mobile phone 31 was asked for familysettlement permission will now be described with reference to aflowchart of FIG. 13.

In this case, when a predetermined condition is met (no response fromthe parent mobile phone 31), the electronic money server 2 makessettlement of a cost for the family charge on the credit acquired fromthe credit server 61.

A step 15 to a step 25 are the same as those in FIG. 8.

When there is no response from the parent mobile phone 31 with respectto a charge request notifying mail in preset N minutes (in apredetermined time) (a step 260), the electronic money server 2 performsthe family charge on credit of the parent. Its procedure is the same asthe steps 230 to 250 depicted in FIG. 12.

Even when the parent cannot make a response because of, e.g., aconference in this manner, the child can carry out the family charge oncredit of the parent.

An example that the parent uses his/her credit to distribute the valueto the child will now be explained with reference to a flowchart of FIG.14.

First, the parent accesses a screen on which distribution is set at theservice site of the electronic money server 2 from the parent mobilephone 31.

The parent mobile phone 31 accepts a setting of distribution informationfrom the screen where the distribution is set by the parent (a step 300)and transmits this information to the electronic money server 2 (a step305). The distribution information includes a date and hour ofdistribution, a distribution money amount for each child, and others.

The electronic money server 2 receives the distribution information fromthe parent mobile phone 31 and stores it in the database.

Furthermore, when the date and hour set in the distribution informationis reached, the electronic money server 2 requests the credit server 61to issue credit (a step 310), and the credit server 61 issues the creditafter examination upon receiving the request from the electronic moneyserver 2 (a step 315).

When the credit is issued, the electronic money server 2 generates thevalue based on this credit (a step 320).

Moreover, the electronic money server 2 uses the family accountmanagement unit to deposit the generated value.

It is to be noted that the family account is divided in accordance witheach child (each child mobile phone 32) in this example, and theelectronic money server 2 uses the family account management unit todistribute the generated value to an account of each child in accordancewith a distribution amount specified in the distribution information.This distribution amount may be calculated by using, e.g., apredetermined distribution ratio set by the parent.

As explained above, the monetary value storing means (the familyaccount) can store a monetary value (the value) in accordance with eachportable terminal (the child mobile phone 32), and the electronic moneyserver 2 includes distributing means for distributing a monetary value(the value) generated on credit to each portable terminal (the childmobile phone 32) based on a preset distribution amount and storing thesame in the monetary value storing means (the family account).

After distributing the value to each child in this manner, theelectronic money server 2 transmits a distribution charge notifying mailto the child mobile phone 32 to inform that the family charge is ready(a step 325).

When the child mobile phone 32 requests the family charge upon receivingthis notification (a step 330), the electronic money server 2 generatesincrease information that is used to increase the value in a portiondivided to the corresponding child mobile phone 32 and transmits thegenerated information to the child mobile phone 32 (a step 335).

The child mobile phone 32 receives the increase information from theelectronic money server 2 and uses this information to execute thefamily charge (a step 340).

The above-explained example is convenient when used in a case where theparent gives the child some spending money.

An example that a date and hour is set to reserve the family charge willnow be explained with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 15.

First, the child accesses the service site of the electronic moneyserver 2 from the child mobile phone 32 to display a reservation screen.

Furthermore, the child mobile phone 32 accepts a setting of reservationinformation from the child (a step 350), and transmits this setting tothe electronic money server 2 (a step 355).

The reservation information includes a family password, a money amountfor the family charge, a date and hour for the family charge, andothers.

As explained above, the electronic money server 2 includes transmissiondate and hour accepting means for accepting a setting of a date and hourfor transmission of increase information from the portable terminal.

Upon receiving the reservation information from the child mobile phone32, the electronic money server 2 stores this information in thedatabase (a step 360) and transmits a charge reservation requestnotifying mail to the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 365).

This electronic mail notifies the parent that the child has reserved thefamily charge and inquires about permission/non-permission for thefamily settlement.

When the parent does not permit the family settlement, the electronicmoney server 2 transmits a notification indicative of this fact to thechild mobile phone 32 and does not perform the family charge.

In this example, it is assumed that the parent permits the familysettlement.

When the parent notifies the electronic money server 2 that the familysettlement is permitted from the parent mobile phone 31 (a step 370),the electronic money server 2 generates decrease information that isused to decrease the value corresponding to a money amount for thefamily charge and transmits the generated information to the parentmobile phone 31 (a step 375).

The parent mobile phone 31 receives this decreases information and usesthis information to execute the family settlement (a step 380).

Moreover, the parent mobile phone 31 notifies the electronic moneyserver 2 of completion of the family settlement.

When the family settlement is completed in the parent mobile phone 31,the electronic money server 2 monitors whether the reserved time hascome, and continues monitoring when it has not come (a step 385; N).

On the other hand, when the reserved time has come (the step 385; Y),the electronic money server 2 transmits an enabled charge notifying mailto the child mobile phone 32 (a step 390) and notifies the child thatthe family charge is possible.

Upon receiving this notification, the child requests the electronicmoney server 2 for the family charge from the child mobile phone 32 (astep 395).

The electronic money server 2 generates increase information in responseto this request and transmits the generated information to the childmobile phone 32 (a step 400).

The child mobile phone 32 receives the increase information from theelectronic money server 2 and uses this information to execute thefamily charge (a step 405).

In this manner, the electronic money server 2 transmits the decreaseinformation to the settlement terminal (the parent mobile phone 31)until the reserved transmission date and hour (a date/hour that thefamily charge is performed) and transmits the increase information tothe mobile terminal (the child mobile phone 32) after the transmissiondate and hour.

The above-explained example is effective when there is a time differenceuntil the parent performs the family settlement after the child hasapplied for the family charge.

For example, assuming that the child asks for the value required on theway home from a cramming school at night after the parent goes to work,the child can carry out the family charge before going home from thecramming school if the parent makes the value settlement at lunch break.

Although the above has explained the various conformations of the familycharge, a typical user interface that is used when providing the familycharge service will now be explained.

FIG. 16(a) is a top screen that is displayed in a display of the parentmobile phone 31 when the parent mobile phone 31 accesses the servicesite of the electronic money server 2.

In the top screen, various items are displayed so as to be selectable.

“1. BALANCE INQUIRY” is an item that is used to display the valuecurrently stored in the parent mobile phone 31.

“2. TRANSACTION HISTORY” is an item that is used to display a history oftransactions carried out by using the value in the parent mobile phone31.

“3. VALUE CHARGE” is an item that is used to charge the parent mobilephone 31 on credit or set a family charge scheme for the child mobilephone 32.

“4. VALUE RECEPTION” is an item that is used to charge the parent mobilephone 31 with the value issued to a user of the parent mobile phone 31through, e.g., a point service or gift.

“5. VALUE TRANSFER” is an item that is used to transfer the value storedin the parent mobile phone 31 to the arbitrary mobile phone 7.

It is to be noted that the value can be transmitted to the child mobilephone 32 by using this value transfer, but this transmission is acomplicated time-consuming operation as compared with the family charge.

That is, since “5. VALUE TRANSFER” does not have a registrationrelationship between a transfer source and a transfer destination, anelectronic mail for requesting transfer must be first transmitted fromthe child mobile phone 32 to the parent mobile phone 31, and thenelectronic mails for confirmation must be transmitted to each other orthese mobile phones must individually access the service site of theelectronic money server 2.

“6. SERVICE MENU” is an item that is used to select any other service,and registration of the family charge service is performed by using thisitem.

When “6. SERVICE MENU” is selected, a service menu screen depicted inFIG. 16(b) is displayed.

In the service menu screen, “(1) SERVICE REGISTRATION”, “(2) FAMILYREGISTRATION”, and “(3) OTHERS” are displayed. Additionally, when “(2)FAMILY REGISTRATION” is selected, such a family registration screen asdepicted in FIG. 17 is displayed, and a representative performsregistration for the family charge service.

The family registration screen will now be explained hereinafter.

“YOUR ELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID” is a section where anelectronic money function unit ID set to the IC chip 12 in the parentmobile phone 31 is input. It is to be noted that this item can beautomatically read from the IC chip 12 and input by the electronic moneyapplication unit 15 (FIG. 3). Further, when the electronic money server2 can recognize the electronic money function unit ID, input of thisitem can be omitted.

“FAMILY'S ELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID” is a section where anelectronic money function unit ID set to the IC chip 12 of the childmobile phone 32 subjected to the family registration is input. In thissection, a plurality of electronic money function unit IDs can be input.

The electronic money function unit IDs input in these sections arestored in the “electronic money function unit ID” of the family database59 (FIG. 6).

“CREDIT CARD NUMBER” is a section where a credit number of arepresentative's credit card is input.

“CREDIT CARD SECURITY CODE” is a section where a security code of arepresentative's credit card is input.

Information input to these sections are stored in the “creditinformation” of the family database 59.

An upper limit amount per single operation and an upper limit amount permonth can be input to “FAMILY'S CHARGE UPPER LIMIT”, and informationinput to this section is stored in the “family charge restrictioninformation” of the family database 59.

“AMOUNT REQUIRING NO PRIOR PERMISSION” is a section where a money amountthat can be used for charge without permission from the parent when thechild requests for the family charge is input.

“TIME REQUIRED FOR PERMISSION” is a section that a time limit until theparent grants permission after the child requests for the family chargeis input. This time corresponding to N minutes at the step 260 in FIG.13.

Information input in these sections is stored in an “amount requiring noprior permission” and a “time required for permission” (which is notshown in FIG. 6) of the family database 59.

“FAMILY PASSWORD” is a section where a family password is set, and thefamily password input in this section is stored in a “family password”of the family database 59.

It is to be noted that the family password can be changed from the userinterface of the parent mobile phone 31 as required.

Moreover, in regard to the “family relationship” of the family database59, a user who has set the family registration screen is determined as arepresentative, and a user of the mobile phone 7 set in the “FAMILY'SELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID” is determined as a regular person.

After inputting these items, when a transmission button is clicked, theitems input by a user are transmitted to the electronic money server 2to be stored in the family database 59.

In this manner, a family group is formed in the family database 59.

It is to be noted that an electronic mail address previously registeredby each user in the user database 58 is used as the “electronic mailaddress” in the family database 59, and hence the electronic mailaddress does not necessarily have to be input from the familyregistration screen.

Further, when “3. VALUE CHARGE” is selected from the top screen depictedin FIG. 18(a), a value charge screen shown in FIG. 18(b) is displayed.

The value charge screen has items “(1) CREDIT CHARGE” AND “(2) FAMILYCHARGE”, and selecting “(1) CREDIT CHARGE” enables charging the IC chip12 of the parent mobile phone 31 with the value based on credit.

On the other hand, in “(2) FAMILY CHARGE”, “REGULAR CHARGE” and“DISTRIBUTION CHARGE” can be selected.

The electronic money server 2 performs the family charge based on theregular charge when a representative selects “REGULAR CHARGE”, and theelectronic money server 2 performs the family charge based on thedistribution when the “DISTRIBUTION CHARGE” is selected. It is to benoted that the distribution charge means the family charge based on thedistribution explained in conjunction with FIG. 14.

FIG. 19 shows a distribution setting screen displayed when “DISTRIBUTIONCHARGE” depicted in FIG. 18(b) is selected.

In the distribution setting screen, “CHARGE AMOUNT” is a section where atotal amount of money distributed to children is input.

“CREDIT SECURITY CODE” is a section where a security code of a creditcard is input. The security code has been already input in “CREDITSECURITY CODE” in FIG. 17, and hence it is input for confirmation.

“DISTRIBUTION DESTINATION” is a section where the child mobile phone 32as a distribution destination to which the value is distributed based onthe family charge is set. When a pull-down button provided at an end ofthe section is selected, a list of the child mobile phones 32 belongingto the family group is displayed, and the plurality of child mobilephones can be selected.

“DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT” is a section where a money amount distributed toeach child mobile phone 32 is set. A money amount that differs dependingon each child mobile phone 32 can be set.

“DISTRIBUTION TIME” is a section where a date and hour that the valuegenerated by the electronic money server 2 on credit is distributed toeach child mobile phone 32 is set.

“MESSAGE” is a section where a message that is transmitted to the childmobile phone 32 at the time of the family charge, e.g., “it is thismonth's spending money. Do not waste your money.” is set.

When the above-explained items are set and a transmission button isclicked, distribution information is transmitted from the parent mobilephone 31 to the electronic money server 2 to be registered.

Then, such registered contents as shown in FIG. 19(b) are displayed inthe parent mobile phone 31.

FIG. 20(a) is a top screen that is displayed in the display of the childmobile phone 32 when the child mobile phone 32 accesses the service siteof the electronic money server 2.

The top screen for the child mobile phone 32 is the same as the topscreen for the parent mobile phone 31.

When the child utilizes the family charge service, “3. VALUE CHARGE” isselected.

Then, a charge screen shown in FIG. 20(b) is displayed, and “IMMEDIATECHARGE” and “CHARGE RESERVATION” can be selected in an item “(2) FAMILYCHARGE”.

It is to be noted that the child mobile phone 32 cannot be charge oncredit of the child, and hence the item “(1) CREDIT CHARGE” cannot beselected.

“IMMEDIATE CHARGE” is a service that is rapidly executed when the childrequests for the family charge as explained in conjunction with FIGS. 8to 12, for example and the business entity of the electronic moneysystem 1 determines which service is to be adopted on a stage of systemdesign.

Furthermore, in “CHARGE RESERVATION”, the child specifies a date andhour of the family charge as explained in FIG. 15, for example.

When “IMMEDIATE CHARGE” is selected in FIG. 20(b), such a family chargeapplication screen as shown in FIG. 20(c) is displayed.

“YOUR ELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID” is a section where anelectronic money function unit ID set to the IC chip 12 in the childmobile phone 32 is input. The electronic money function unit ID may beautomatically read from the IC chip 12 and input by the electronic moneyapplication unit 15.

“FAMILY'S ELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID” is a section where anelectronic money function unit ID of the parent mobile phone 31 of arepresentative who defrays the family charge is input.

In regard to this section, when a plurality of representatives arepresent, a pull-down menu can be used to see and select them.

“CHARGE AMOUNT” is a money amount required for the family charge.

Furthermore, although omitted in FIG. 20(c), there is also a sectionwhere a family password is input, and the child inputs the familypassword from this section.

When a transmission button is clicked, the child mobile phone 32transmits a family charge request including the above-explainedinformation to the electronic money server 2.

When the electronic money server 2 receives the family charge requestinformation from the child mobile phone 32, it obtains permission forthe family settlement from the parent mobile phone 31, and theelectronic money server 2 displays such a standby screen as shown inFIG. 21(a) in the display of the child mobile phone 32 in the meantime.

Moreover, when the parent mobile phone 31 grants permission for thefamily settlement, the electronic money server 2 displays such a familycharge execution screen as shown in FIG. 21(b) in the display of thechild mobile phone 32. Additionally, when an execution button is clickedin the family charge execution screen, the family charge is executed.

On the other hand, when “CHARGE RESERVATION” is selected in the chargescreen as shown in FIG. 22(a), such a family charge reservation screenas depicted in FIG. 22(b) is displayed.

Input contents in the reservation screens “YOUR ELECTRONIC MONEYFUNCTION UNIT ID”, “FAMILY'S ELECTRONIC MONEY FUNCTION UNIT ID”, and“CHARGE AMOUNT” are the same as those in the family charge applicationscreen in FIG. 20(c).

“PASSWORD” is a section where a family password is input, and CHARGETIME is a section where a date and hour for which the family charge isreserved is input.

When a transmission button is clicked, the family charge requestinformation including the above-explained information is transmitted tothe electronic money server 2.

Although the above explanation presupposes the family charge requestfrom the child mobile phone 32, an electronic money function unit ID ofthe IC card 6 owned by the child may be registered when registering thefamily information.

In this case, the parent mobile phone 31 may be requested for the familycharge through the user terminal 9 or a non-illustrated online in-storeterminal (e.g., the electronic money terminal 8).

That is, combining a communicating function of the user terminal 9 orthe in-store terminal with a value processing function of the IC card 6enables realizing a function equivalent to that of the child mobilephone 32 (i.e., a function of accessing the electronic money server 2 torequest the family charge or perform the value charge and others).

Additionally, when permission for the family charge is obtained, theelectronic money server 2 can be connected with the IC chip (connectingmeans) through the IC card 6 or the in-store terminal (a communicationterminal) to transmit increase information.

Therefore, the child can set the IC card 6 to the user terminal 9 athome or the in-store terminal and access the service site of theelectronic money server 2 to effect the family charge.

Further, the parent mobile phone 31 owned by the parent may besubstituted by the IC card 6. In this case, the parent can set the ICcard 6 to the user terminal 9 at home or the in-store terminal anddecrease the value from the IC card 6 to make the family settlement.

The following effects can be obtained from the above-explainedembodiment.

(1) For example, when a representative and a regular person, e.g., aparent and a child are grouped as a family group, the regular person canperform the family charge based on defrayment on the representative.Therefore, even a person who cannot utilize credit of a credit card,e.g., a person under age can rapidly carry out the charge online.(2) Since the representative and the regular person are registered as afamily in advance, it is possible to rapidly ask the representative forthe family settlement permission when the regular person requests thefamily charge.(3) Registering credit information of the representative enables theregular person to carry out the family charge on credit of therepresentative.(4) Depositing the value in the family account enables the regularperson to carry out the family charge any time.(5) It is possible to realize various operations, e.g., distributing thevalue to the regular person by the representative or making reservationfor the family charge by the regular person.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a data storage unitconfigured to store family information and an account associated withthe family information, wherein the family information includes aplurality of identifiers of portable devices; a communication unitconfigured to receive a request for using an amount of monetary value inthe account from a portable device, the request including an identifierof the portable device; and a management unit configured to confirm thatthe identifier is in the family information and decrease a balance ofthe account by the amount of monetary value when the balance issufficient.
 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim1, wherein the data storage unit is further configured to store creditinformation, wherein the information processing apparatus furthercomprises a credit acquisition unit configured to acquire credit from acredit server using the credit information when the balance isinsufficient.
 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim2, wherein the management unit is further configured to generate anamount of monetary value based on the credit and to increase the balanceof the account by the amount of monetary value.
 4. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the creditinformation is associated with a user of one of the plurality ofportable devices.
 5. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a built-in IC chipincluding the identifier.
 6. An information processing method,comprising: storing family information and an account associated withthe family information, wherein the family information includes aplurality of identifiers of portable devices and credit information;receiving, from a portable device, a request for using an amount ofmonetary value in the account, the request including an identifier ofthe portable device; and confirming that the identifier is in the familyinformation and decreasing a balance of the account by the amount whenthe balance is sufficient.
 7. The information processing methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising: acquiring credit from a creditserver using the credit information when the balance is insufficient. 8.The information processing method according to claim 7, furthercomprising: generating an amount of monetary value based on the creditand increasing the balance of the account by the amount of monetaryvalue.
 9. The information processing method according to claim 8,wherein the credit information is associated with a user of one of theplurality of portable devices.
 10. The information processing methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the portable device comprises a built-inIC chip in which the identifier is written.
 11. An informationprocessing system, comprising: a portable device, comprising: a built-inIC chip storing an identifier; and a communication unit configured tosend a request for using an amount of monetary value, the requestincluding the identifier; and an electronic money server, comprising: adata storage unit configured to store family information and an accountassociated with the family information, wherein the family informationincludes a plurality of identifiers of portable devices; a communicationunit configured to receive the request from the portable device; and amanagement unit configured to confirm that the identifier included inthe request is in the family information and decrease a balance of theaccount by the amount of monetary value when the balance is sufficient.12. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein thedata storage unit is further configured to store credit information,wherein the electronic money server further comprises a creditacquisition unit configured to acquire credit from a credit server usingthe credit information when the balance is insufficient.
 13. Theinformation processing system according to claim 12, wherein themanagement unit is further configured to generate an amount of monetaryvalue based on the credit and to increase the balance of the account bythe amount of monetary value.
 14. The information processing systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the credit information is associated witha user of one of the plurality of portable devices.